Right and left stocking



(No Model.)

W. 0. LEWIS. RIGHT AND LEFT STOCKING.

No. 474,391. Patented May 10,1892.

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VALTER C. LEYVIS, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

RIGHT AND LEFT STOCKING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 474,391, dated May 10, 1892.

Application filed May 22, 1891- Serial No. 393,719. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER C. LEWIS, of 3oston,in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Stockings, of which the following is a specification.

This improvement relates to right and left stockings-that is, pairs in which the stockings are made one to fit the right foot and the other to fit the left, and particularly, but not necessarily exclusively, to that style of right and left stockings known to the trade as waukenhose. It is found in practice that it is desirable that there should be some means whereby the wearer may distinguish quickly by the sense of touch between the right and left stockings. The difference in the construction of the two stockings is visible at the toes; but as stockings are often put on hastily and by dim light, and as they are often found in the drawer with the foot portion folded or tucked in, and as the shape of the toes is not readily apparent unless the stockings lie flat and open, it is desirable that the designating means should be apparent not only to the eye, but to the sense of touch.

This invention is also very useful at the factory in mating the stockings.

The nature of the invention is fully described below and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is afront elevation of a right stocking of the waukenhose type, and Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the left stocking.

The right stocking is constructed as usual. The left stocking is provided near its upper end with a thickened portion A. This thickened portion or protuberance is made during the process of manufacture by massing more yarn at that point. I prefer to make this portion A in the form of an annular rib at a short distance from and parallel with the upper edge of the stocking. The length, width, and shape, however, of this protuberance or rib are not essential, so long as there is sufficient additional thickness therein to be quickly apparent to the touch. The position near the upper edge of the stocking is preferable, as that is the portion usually grasped by the wearer in putting it on, and hence the portion at which a thickened spot or ring would be most quickly apparent to the touch. Of course this thickened portion may be applied either to the right or to the left stocking, but not to both, the left, however, being preferred, and the rib may extend entirely or partially around the stocking, as deemed desirable.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A pair of right and left stockings one only of which is provided with a relatively thick rib near the top or upper edge, where.- by one stocking can be distinguished from the other by the sense of touch, substantially as set forth.

2. A pair of right and left stockings one only of which is provided with a relatively thick annular rib near the top or upper edge, whereby one stocking can be distinguished from the other by the sense of touch, substantially as described.

WALTER C. LEWIS.

Witnesses:

HENRY W. WILLIAMS, J. M. HARTNETT. 

